Warriors expected to target former $139 million 21 PPG career scorer if LeBron James pursuit fails
· Yahoo Sports
Warriors expected to target former $139 million 21 PPG career scorer if LeBron James pursuit fails originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Golden State Warriors are heavily pursuing LeBron James in NBA free agency, but at this point, it's looking more likely than not that the team won't land the future Hall of Famer.
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James is taking his time to make his decision, and though Golden State is still in the running for the 22-time All-Star, rumors point to a return to the Cleveland Cavaliersbeing the most likely destination for LeBron.
Additionally, ESPN's Anthony Slater reported on Monday that the Warriors aren't optimistic that James will pick them in free agency, though they will still keep a roster spot open for him.
"On the James front, Warriors sources continue to express a low level of optimism that James will ultimately pick them as his next team, but they intend to keep roster space open for James until he ultimately declares his choice," Slater wrote.
If Golden State is unable to sign James, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. will need to find a backup plan quickly, and it could be a six-time All-Star wing.
Warriors expected to look into DeMar DeRozan
During an appearance on SportsCenter, Slater stated that the Warriors will look into the possibility of signing former Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan, who was waived by the team on Monday.
Slater adds that DeRozan will especially become a target for Golden State if they fail to lure LeBron to the Bay Area.
"The Warriors, I'm already told, it's a guy they'll look into in the coming days," Slater said of DeRozan on SportsCenter. "Especially if they don't get LeBron James."
DeRozan would be an adequate fallback for the Warriors if James doesn't come to town. The 36-year-old may not be the prolific All-Star he once was with the Toronto Raptors, but DeRozan is still an effective scorer who averaged over 18.4 points per game on nearly 50% from the field in 2025.
Adding DeRozan would give Golden State another productive scorer next to Steph Curry, and a battle-tested veteran with over 60 playoff starts. The 6-foot-6 forward is also one of the most durable players in the sport, playing over 70 games in each of the last five seasons.
Signing DeRozan, who will likely come for cheap, will also give the Warriors flexibility to retain Draymond Green and make other moves on the roster.
DeRozan wouldn't be as exciting an acquisition as James, but the USC product would add much-needed three-level scoring on the wing to Steve Kerr's rotation and take some pressure off Curry, who's getting older and played just 43 games last year due to a knee injury.